A brief introduction to Open Knowledge and why it matters

1. THE POWER OF
OPEN KNOWLEDGE
PRESENTED BY
Dr Laura James
CEO, Open Knowledge Foundation

2. imagine
• You’re a parent
• You’re ill
• You’re curious. Or sceptical. Or concerned.
That’s when you need the power to answer
questions that matter. The power of open
knowledge.

3. The power of the internet
• Sharing information is easy

4. What is open data?
Open Data can be freely used,
reused, and redistributed, by anyone,
anywhere, for any purpose
(we also work with public domain cultural works -
content - as well as data)

5. Why open?
So you can:
componentise
remix
reshare
Giving you:
new insights
better data
innovation

6. What is open knowledge?
Open Knowledge is what Open Data
becomes when it is made useful -
accessible, understandable,
meaningful, and able to
help someone answer a question that
matters or solve a real problem

7. OpenDefinition.org

8. all kinds of knowledge
• any kind of knowledge can be open
• any format: spreadsheets, databases, pictures,
words…
• any field: transport, science, products, education,
sustainability, maps, legislation, libraries,
economics, culture, development, business, design,
finance …

9. all kinds of people
in all kinds of organisations
• open data can be published by anyone: government, public sector
bodies, researchers, corporations, universities, NGOs, startups, charities,
community groups, individuals….
• open data can be used by anyone: government, public sector bodies,
researchers, corporations, universities, NGOs, startups, charities,
community groups, individuals….
• all kinds of people can get involved with the open knowledge
movement: as a campaigner, coder, writer, donor, trainer, tweeter,
meetup organiser, data wrangler, ambassador, analyst, researcher,
manager…

10. The Open Knowledge Foundation
• We build tools to make working with information easier
• We help people learn the data skills they need
• We connect and support individuals and organisations and
projects to create collaborations and make things happen

11. we are makers
Creating the open infrastructure and tooling
to power and support the open ecosystem
and innovation

12. CKAN.org

13. OpenSpending.org

14. WhereDoesMyMoneyGo.org

15. OKFNLabs.org

16. Timemapper.org

17. we bring people together
& advise & campaign & collaborate
Meetups and workshops – online and offline
Key convening events such as the first international Open
Government Data Camp in 2010
Direct technical and legal contributions to a large number
of projects and initiatives in dozens of countries around the
world, shaping essential policies at the World Bank, US, UK,
French, Finnish, Brazilian governments

18. OKFN.org/local

19. OKFN.org/WG

20. OKFestival.org

21. we help people learn
Learning through doing at datathons & hackathons -
online and offline
Open materials
Partnerships around the world

22. OpenDataHandbook.org

23. OpenDataHandbook.org

24. Schoolofdata.org

25. Why school of data…
• School of Data is a critical component of the open data ecosystem:
• provides tools and training to empower people to use open data for
good - especially to people new to open data;
• supports outreach and engagement by creating a supportive community
of learners and mentors - working with Open Knowledge Foundation
Local Groups;
• creates opportunities for people and communities to use open data to
make an impact;
• works both with governments to open up data and data users such as
journalists and NGOs.

26. How school of data
works
• Data expeditions - online and offline short gatherings where a group of
people with different backgrounds tackle a data related problem
• Data clinics - hands on support working directly with people’s data
• Mentoring - local mentors working with local communities
• Online content - tutorial and walkthroughs
• Offline resources e.g. Data Journalism Handbook
• And we now have spanish and portugese versions

27. Data Expeditions
Data Expeditions are how we explore problems in partnership with others.
They are about learning and investigating and are a key tool in creating new
insight. Through insight we understand problems and can create positive
change.
• Short gatherings where a group of people with different backgrounds
tackle a data related problem.
• Work in small groups with diverse skills: storytellers, data analysts,
scouts, engineers, designers
• The focus is on the process (collaborating, understanding data, learning
from peers) rather than on the outcome
• Group work flow:

28. So…
That’s a lot of things we do. What difference does
open knowledge really make?
Opening up the Danish Address Register
There was a fire at a house. Fire engine could not get there because their GPS did
not have the road on it leading to the house. That road was in government’s data but
was not integrated into data on the satnav. Government have now opened up data
and that worked out really well (so next time fire engine will get there!)

29. So…
That’s a lot of things we do. What difference does it
make?
Uganda Health
Providing information about the performance of village health services in Uganda –
days the nurse visits, immunization services - resulted in reduction of 33% in infant
mortality and several other significant improvements in health outcomes.

30. So…
That’s a lot of things we do. What difference does it
make?
Uganda Education
In 1995, Ugandan schools were receiving only ~25% of the core grant allocated to
them by the government with more the other 75% being lost to corruption. In 1997
the Government started a newspaper campaign to inform parents how much their
schools should be receiving. The result: by 2001 schools were receiving more than
80% of the core grant (more than 3x more than they had before the campaign).
Open information making a difference

31. So…
We are in at the start of an open data revolution
• But it’s not a magic bullet. It will be a slow process including
institutional change.
• There will be new business models, building value from things
other than data
• We need: tools, communities, skills
• We need access to data!
• We need to get better at working with data
• It’s going to be disruptive
• But it will be a positive change overall

32. Why open?
• Open data will help us solve the big global problems
• Open gives us choice, freedom, transparency & trust
• Open scales
• Open is sustainable

33. Conclusions
The Open Knowledge Foundation is a global
network empowering people to answer
questions that matter. Get involved today!
The 21st century knowledge society should
be an open knowledge society
@OKFN http://OKFN.org